where all the afternoon
very busy, and so in the evening to Sir R. Viner's, thinking to finish
my accounts there, but am prevented, and so back again home, and late at
my office at business, and so home to supper and sing a little with my
dear wife, and so to bed.

9th. Up, and to the office, and at noon home to dinner, and then with my
wife and Barker by coach, and left them at Charing Cross, and I to St.
James's, and there found Sir W. Coventry alone in his chamber, and
sat and talked with him more than I have done a great while of several
things of the Navy, how our debts and wants do unfit us for doing any
thing. He tells me he hears stories of Commissioner Pett, of selling
timber to the Navy under other names, which I told him I believe is
true, and did give him an instance. He told me also how his clerk
Floyd he hath put away for his common idlenesse and ill company, and
particularly that yesterday he was found not able to come and attend
him, by being run into the arme in a squabble, though he pretends it was
done in the streets by strangers, at nine at night, by the Maypole in
the Strand. Sir W. Coventry did write to me this morning to recommend
him another, which I could find in my heart to do W. Hewer for his good;
but do believe he will not part with me, nor have I any mind to let him
go. I would my brother were fit for it, I would adventure him there.
He insists upon an unmarried man, that can write well, and hath French
enough to transcribe it only from a copy, and may write shorthand, if it
may be. Thence with him to my Lord Chancellor at Clarendon House, to a
Committee for Tangier, where several things spoke of and proceeded on,
and particularly sending Commissioners thither before the new Governor
goes, which I think will signify as much good as any thing else that
hath been done about the place, which is none at all. I did again tell
them the badness of their credit by the time their tallies took before
they become payable, and their spending more than their fund. They seem
well satisfied with what I said, and I am glad that I may be remembered
that I do tell them the case plain; but it troubled me that I see them
hot upon it, that the Governor shall not be paymaster, which will
force me either to the providing one there to do it (which I will never
undertake), or leave the employment, which I had rather do. Mightily
pleased with the noblenesse of this house, and the brave furniture and
pictures, which